Key insights:
- Workers are demanding £1 an hour more to keep up with rising living costs.
- The dispute hinges on shift pay being “incorrectly consolidated,” costing workers money.
- A strike could hit supplies of Hula Hoops, Pom-Bears and Discos just as autumn demand kicks in.
Workers at the KP Snacks factory in Billingham, County Durham – home to British snack favourites including Hula Hoops, Pom-Bears and Disco crisps – are voting on whether to take strike action over a pay dispute.
According to the union GMB, staff rejected a proposed 77p per hour pay increase and are instead demanding a £1 per hour rise to reflect the cost of living. The union has warned a walkout could result in shortages of the brands produced at the site if no resolution is reached.
“KP Snacks is a hugely profitable company,” said GMB organiser Chris Preston in a statement. “Our members work hard to make the snacks everyone loves – the least they deserve is a decent pay rise.”
The strike ballot opened in mid-July and is scheduled to close on 12 August. If successful, the union would be required to give two weeks’ notice before industrial action begins – meaning strikes could start in early September, potentially disrupting supply in UK supermarkets.
Rising cost-of-living and wage demands
The dispute centres not just on hourly pay but on how shift premiums and consolidated rates have been applied. GMB alleges weekend and nightshift workers have had their enhanced pay rates “incorrectly consolidated,” leading to real terms pay losses.
In a campaign statement, the union said: “Weekend & nightshift workers at KP Snacks have had their wages incorrectly consolidated, meaning they are losing money every year, but KP Snacks are refusing to put this right.”
KP Snacks has not made a public comment; however, it previously stated it remains committed to fair pay and constructive dialogue during earlier negotiations at other sites.
Billingham is one of KP Snacks’ major manufacturing facilities and plays a central role in producing savoury snacks under both branded and private label lines. The company is a subsidiary of Germany’s Intersnack Group and owns numerous leading UK snack brands, including McCoy’s, Skips, Wheat Crunchies and Nik Naks.
The union’s campaign is part of a broader wave of industrial action and pay disputes across the food manufacturing sector. In 2023, KP Snacks faced similar action at its Ashby-de-la-Zouch facility, where workers walked out multiple times before agreeing to a revised deal.
The potential strike also comes at a strategically important time for the snacks sector, with September marking the start of increased demand ahead of the back-to-school and autumn retail season. Retailers and wholesalers will be watching closely for signs of disruption.
“A strike at the Billingham site could see shortages of some of the nation’s favourite snacks on supermarket shelves,” said a GMB spokesperson.
